The rate at which motherboards hit the market is simply
amazing. I don't know how these manufacturers keep up with the technology! So if
you are somewhat bewildered and confused by the vast range of motherboards out there, I don't
blame you.
Motherboard technology is one of
the fastest moving areas in the computer industry. Notable motherboard
manufacturers like ASUS, Gigabyte and MSI come out with new boards every few
months.
To help you out, I've consolidated a summary list of the top 5 Intel motherboards which I recommend. These boards are all great performers - you won't go far wrong if you build your
Intel-based system using them. Have this list handy when you're out shopping for
your next motherboard!
The ASUS
P8P67 Pro
The ASUS P8P67 Pro Intel
P67 Motherboard provides an Intel® P67 chipset which supports the 2nd
generation Intel Core i3, Core i5 and Core i7 Processors. It also comes with
SATA 6.0 GB/s, USB 3.0, Gigabit LAN,
anti-surge protection, as well
as support for SLI and
CrossFireX (for running dual video cards in your system).
The GIGABYTE
P67A-D3-B3
The GIGABYTE P67A-D3-B3 Intel 6 Series
Motherboard is a direct competitor to the ASUS P8P67 Pro motherboard. It is
also powered by the Intel® P67 chipset with support for Intel Core i3, Core
i5 and Core i7 processors. It also supports SATA 6.0 GB/s, USB 3.0, 7.1
channel Audio, Gigabit LAN and CrossFireX support.
ASUS Maximus
IV Extreme
The ASUS Maximus IV
Extreme RoG Edition Motherboard is a state-of-the-art motherboard that
boasts top-end technologies - if you can afford the price tag. It supports
all the latest Intel CPUs, plus there are ten USB 3.0 and four SATA 6.0 GB/s
ports, along with support for three-way NVIDIA SLI or AMD CrossFireX
graphics cards. Built for gamers, there are also dual Gigabit Intel®
Ethernet ports and support for dual-channel DDR3 RAM.
MSI P67A-GD53
B3
The MSI
P67A-GD53 B3 Intel P67 Motherboard features top quality components to keep
your computer system running smoothly and efficiently. The motherboard
features supports the latest Intel CPUs (i.e.
Intel Core i3, Core i5 and Core
i7), USB 3.0 and SATA 6.0 GB/s.
It's also CrossFire/SLI Ready for enhanced graphics performance.
Biostar
TP67B+B3
The Biostar TP67B+B3
Intel P67 Motherboard features Intel P67 Express chipset based on the new
Intel Sandy Bridge platform in ATX form factor. It supports the 2nd
Generation Intel Core i3, i5 and i7 family of processors. Throw in support
for USB 3.0, SATA 6 GB/s and also 7.1 surround sound - all at a pretty cheap
price tag - and you've got a winner here.
Conclusion
OK - which of these
motherboards would I buy? I've always liked ASUS and MSI. In my experience, I've
had a Gigabyte motherboard crash on me before - so I tend to avoid them.
However, most of my friends using Gigabyte are very happy with their products. Ultimately, its your own decision - so consider what features you need
and your budget, then make an informed choice. Happy shopping!
Do
you want to build a low-cost but high performance gaming
computer? Then you might want to check out How To Build A
Gaming Computer For Under $1000. This eBook package will show you how to
build a gaming
computer for under $1000 - without compromising the quality of hardware and
gaming performance. Get step-by-step instructions and full picture
illustrations on how to install and configure every component in your new gaming
rig.
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